Whole grains and weight loss?

Hello all you moms out there! I’ve got two lovely children, but now I'm getting serious and am hoping to drop just about 20 lbs. I like to think that I make my family healthy meals, but I guess there’s always room for improvement, right? I’m not interested in fad diets, or anything of the sort... I’m just looking for healthy choices that don’t sacrifice taste or texture! I’ve been hearing a lot about whole grains: pasta, breads, cereals. Do they actually promote weight loss, or are they just good for you in other ways? Any info on this would be appreciated! :D
 
Whole grains don't "promote" weight loss. Personally, I don't think anything really promotes weight loss. The reason that whole grains are good for you is that they have a lot of nutritional value, which is also the reason you might think that it promotes weight loss. It's simply that non-whole wheat is basically empty calories. If you want a good source of knowledge on this stuff, check out the new food pyramid at - it has a ton of info on nuitrition.
 
mombfit said:
Hello all you moms out there! I’ve got two lovely children, but now I'm getting serious and am hoping to drop just about 20 lbs. I like to think that I make my family healthy meals, but I guess there’s always room for improvement, right? I’m not interested in fad diets, or anything of the sort... I’m just looking for healthy choices that don’t sacrifice taste or texture! I’ve been hearing a lot about whole grains: pasta, breads, cereals. Do they actually promote weight loss, or are they just good for you in other ways? Any info on this would be appreciated! :D

Whole grains (bread, noodles, etc.), along with having a high nutritional content, do not cause the higher insulin production that their fortified cousins cause.

the is an excellent site to check out. Unfortunately, when the US went "low carb" it tossed out the whole grains. Too bad.

Over40
 
What do you mean by "when the US went 'low carb' it tossed out the whole grains"? If you mean the site, there are definitely whole grains on it.
 
Here's the skinny on whole grains:

1. Whole grains contain large amounts of fiber, a carbohydrate.

2. Fiber makes you feel fuller, faster.

3. Fiber can't be absorbed by the body like other carbs. So when you eat fiber, you pass it. This is good for your intestinal tract, and it means you get fewer calories with your meals (though they are still counted among the calories on most packaging. Just subtract GRAMS OF FIBER x 4 from the calories).

4. Whole grains come with a great deal of nutrients aside from the fiber - especially healthy oils that are usually removed during the refining process.

5. Once you adapt to the flavor of whole grains, you'll find they have a much richer and more stimulating flavor than refined grains (e.g., white bread, white rice, etc.)

"So you're saying that if I replace white rice with brown rice, I'll get full with less food, have a healthier intestinal system, eat fewer calories, and it still tastes great?"

Yes.

"You're a liar, aren't you?"

No, no I'm not. :)
 
When i was younger i had a serious problem with my bowels.....not that you want to know lol but doctors told me to eat lots of whole grain and wheat, this is good for you as it helps food pass through you quicker. I felt it helped me lose weight but i do excercise a lot and im at the gym 4-5 times a week.
 
also, since you have children and they eat WHITE bread. try some of the best of both stuff, the white-ish bread that tastes almost the same but with the goodness of brown!!!
 
Shorty - what bread are you talking about? Like a white-wheat bread? I've seen these at the store but they're not made of whole wheat grains, they're enriched wheat flour which is just as bad as white bread isnt it? Just curious b/c i'd love to find a white-wheat bread that is made with whole wheats ...
 
What brands of bread have heathy bread... just anything that is 100% whole wheat? or is it best to go with multigrain, and which brands of bread shine in these departments?
 
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